Michigan

Beat The Press: Skyline heads into rematch of four-overtime thriller against Bedford and more Ann Arbor basketball picks

Skyline High School head coach Mike Lovelace talks to his team at half time against Temperance Bedford High School at Skyline on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in Ann Arbor. Skyline defeated Temperance Bedford at the end of the fourth overtime, 81-77. (Patrick Record | Ann Arbor News file)

Beat the Press

I don’t think I’m breaking any new ground when I say that the Skyline boys basketball team had a tough time joining the SEC’s elite. Last year in particular, they could play close games with anyone, but never seemed to notch that huge win.

It was maddening for the Eagles. But for someone whose job involves picking games, I had no issue with the lack of surprises.

This year’s been a different story. There’s been plenty of surprises.

Good for Skyline, not so much for me, as my season record can attest.

But a pattern is starting to emerge. Five of Skyline’s last seven games have been decided by six points or fewer. The Eagles are 4-1 in them, with wins over Temperance Bedford, Monroe, Lincoln and Dexter, two of which came on the road.

BEAT THE PRESS WINNERS

“This league is really about who can be the toughest night in night out because all of the coaches are good at scouting and knowing what you do well and trying to take it away,” Skyline coach Mike Lovelace said after Tuesday’s win over Dexter. “I mean there's a lot of game-planning going in from a lot of coaches. It's just a really fun league this year.”

I’ll be shocked if Friday’s trip to Temperance Bedford isn’t another six-points-or-less game. The first one went to four overtimes – when Skyline was no doubt the tougher team.

Maybe it’s foolish to pick the Eagles as they head to one of the toughest venues in the league. But four out of the last five tough ones have gone their way. I like those odds.

All games are 7 p.m. Friday unless otherwise noted. Records are through Tuesday’s games.